Game Thread GAME# 10: RAPTORS @ BLAZERS - JANUARY 11, 2021 - MONDAY, 7:00 PM, NBCSNW

[PCmor7]

Melo is a tough question, on the one hand i really like him he seems like a great guy for team chemistry and the locker room and i really appreciate that a guy with his name choose to come back to small market Portland. On the other hand in 90% percent of the games he's a minus player and a huge liability on defense. I thought he would get not more than 15 minutes per game, i didn't think that he would play that many minutes

I think one has to be careful about putting a lot of stock in the plus/minus with our reserves and with Melo in particular.

I expect him and most of those guys to be under water in plus/minus. It's more a matter of how much under water, because of just the overall make-up of the roster and that group. If they are close to break-even, with how our starting unit is capable of building up big advantages, then they are doing fine.

I ask myself if not Melo, who would be in there that I could count on to count on with either CJ or Dame to create shots on that second unit? Was there another FA we could have signed that would be either a good enough scorer or such a great defender that they'd have a better plus/minus? There probably were a handful, but it's hard to think of many. Basically, I'm looking at him to help hold down the fort while the starters recharge and occasionally be in the game when we need another guy who's proven to be a clutch scorer. Right now, he's doing that and probably a little bit more.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think one has to be careful about putting a lot of stock in the plus/minus with our reserves and with Melo in particular.

I expect him and most of those guys to be under water in plus/minus. It's more a matter of how much under water, because of just the overall make-up of the roster and that group. If they are close to break-even, with how our starting unit is capable of building up big advantages, then they are doing fine.

I ask myself if not Melo, who would be in there that I could count on to count on with either CJ or Dame to create shots on that second unit? Was there another FA we could have signed that would be either a good enough scorer or such a great defender that they'd have a better plus/minus? There probably were a handful, but it's hard to think of many. Basically, I'm looking at him to help hold down the fort while the starters recharge and occasionally be in the game when we need another guy who's proven to be a clutch scorer. Right now, he's doing that and probably a little bit more.

The problem isn't just Melo. It's the Melo/Kanter combination that makes them both much worse.

 

[RoseCityRebel]

International protocols are crazy. At least they get to go back to "What they call Home" and play 8 of the next 10 there with no travel in between. Their schedule to this point has been absolutely brutal with travel after every game they have played. This season the "Home Court" is empty so the real disadvantage is the travel and health protocols. I believe they have a practice facility available in Tampa so i would look for them to improve greatly. That team will be very tough to beat before this season is over.

I think there is something to be said of sleeping on your own bed at home, and having all of the familiar comforts, instead of living thousands of miles away in a city none of the players knew much about prior to “moving” there.

 

[speeds]

Raptors are a much better team than their record would indicate. That is a strong team that will get some home cookin and come back in the standings.
Gutsy win Blazers. Glad they played through the bad shooting.

We've lost Leonard, Gasol, Ibaka, and Green from our 'ship team, and replaced them with nobody or with lesser players. We don't have the goods right now to be better than a wild card team. I think Bobby & Masai will give us another month to get back to .500 and if we're not there expect Kyle & Norm to be traded and the season to go into tank mode. The 2021 draft is looking good.

 

[twobullz]

I was perusing a Raptor's forum. One fan thought all it would take to get Harden is Van Fleet and Boucher. I guess all teams have delusional fans when it comes to trades.

 

[HolyBackboard]

Blazers only had 18 assists tonight, which marked the first time all season they've won when dishing out less than 23 dimes. We did miss a lot of open shots, but there were times when iso-ball was our only offensive strategy. It wasn't a sustainable win, but it's a win. As long as we don't use this game as a blueprint for the remainder of the season and get back to ball movement/player movement (as we saw over the final 4 minutes), we'll be good.

Defensively, the communication and decision-making was abysmal for most of the game. It seemed like not everyone on the floor knew whether we were switching or fighting over screens. We helped off of shooters when it wasn't necessary, and Toronto made us pay. I thought the team dialed in their communication was played much stronger defense down the stretch.

Thankfully we won and it was just game 10 of 72.

 

[PCmor7]

The problem isn't just Melo. It's the Melo/Kanter combination that makes them both much worse.

It's not good, true. I'm just saying you have to weigh that against a hypothetical alternative. Say the Blazers acquired a center that basically played sound positional defense and set screens. Is that really going to make the second unit any better? Or is the plus/minus going to remain the same or get even worse because you added another piece that couldn't create points like Kanter can? I think it's most likely the latter.

Taking that a step further, what if Nurk gets hurt for an extended period, and now you have to put that journeyman big in the starting unit? You're really done.

None of these guys are perfect. Like you, I'd like to have more defense but I'd also like a lot more ball movement. I just don't know what was out there we could have picked up to pay Peter without robbing Paul.

 

[Natebishop3]

now you have to put that journeyman big in the starting unit? You're really done.

We went to the WCF with that journeyman big.

 

[PCmor7]

We went to the WCF with that journeyman big.

You misunderstand me. I put Kanter ABOVE a journeyman big. Kanter is a guy who could start on a respectable or contending game with typical roster makeup. I think he's a notch about a player like Kyle O'Quinn, who I'd classify as a journeyman big ... he's OK if the fit is right in a particular situation, but, if you need him to produce for you every night, you are going to be disappointed.

That's what I'm saying your trade-off is ... a guy like Kanter who is deficient in one area but well above his peers in others, or a guy who is just average in every way.

 

[BonesJones]

The original statement didn't say that.

If you would have said that i would have no problem with that statement. Though it would be obtuse to not add the weird ending to the half.
Lets flip it. They were down 5 and when he left they were down 15. That is 10 points. Seems my math works a bit better.
Does that at all tell you what happened on the court? You are the first person to say "It's more than just stats".
Melo gets a win share for not just what he did in the last 5 mins but for what he provided all game. Awesome set ups to both CJ and Trent that simply didn't fall from three. Blocked shots and steals not to mention picks that helped CJ. Rebounds this team sorely needed at crucial times leading to transition baskets that kept them within 10-12 points.
If your whole idea of value is +/- stats then you are completely missing the game. Time for you to take a step back and start simply watching basketball again. Analyzing everything will have you missing the greatness you are witnessing. Melo played a good game last night. It's that simple.
Hope you enjoyed the win. They will need it this year.

Hence why he was a -10 at half.

Obviously one game is a small sample size but we've been consistently much worse with Melo on the court instead of off.

Melo is a great 4th quarter last might. He was very bad in the first 3.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Hard to get excited for these wins when you know it won't carry over to the post-season.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Hard to get excited for these wins when you know it won't carry over to the post-season.

The team is playing better and better.
#growthmatters

 

[42N8Bounce]

Hard to get excited for these wins when you know it won't carry over to the post-season.

I love watching Blazers basketball. And a come from behind 1 point win is a game I enjoy.

My son and I were up off the couch yelling at the tv cheering our team on.

Nurk out with an injury. Dame twisted his ankle and clearly not at full strength. The team never gave up. I love to see that fighting spirit!

It’s a long season, and there will be good games and bad games. I’m going to take this win and enjoy it!

 

[Sheldon Shape]

The team is playing better and better.
#growthmatters

We'll see if the growth is real. I'm not willing to say yes yet.

 

[Lanny]

Am I in the right thread? Where is everyone?

Relax, would ya, I'm here.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

We'll see if the growth is real. I'm not willing to say yes yet.

Good, you shouldn't. I've been saying that we can't really judge the team (shortened preseason and training camp) until after 20 games, and we can't even START to judge them until after 10 games. So, here we are about to play game 11. Let's see how they go. I'm optimistic, but I totally understand pessimism - this team started out a complete mess.

 

[kjironman1]

Good, you shouldn't. I've been saying that we can't really judge the team (shortened preseason and training camp) until after 20 games, and we can't even START to judge them until after 10 games. So, here we are about to play game 11. Let's see how they go. I'm optimistic, but I totally understand pessimism - this team started out a complete mess.

This is where a good many of us are. We will see where they are at 20 games pretty much like every season. It's a real good benchmark.

 

[James lamphear]

20 games is good bench mark but I look at each game to see improvement in areas that we are weak at but if see the same thing up to 20 games then I know what expect the rest of the season.